You're Living More Like a Dead Man Than I Am

Wonderful!

Old Wizard Fiennes applauded enthusiastically and turned to Snape. "If you ask me, you'd be better off leaving that hellhole sooner rather than later. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't even get the chance to get away in the future."

"When that time comes, it won't be enough to just say you want to cut ties with the Dark Lord. After all, you'll inevitably be dragged into sharing in the benefits. Whether you want to or not, you'll be stained by it."

Snape fell silent for a while, but still shook his head.

"Sometimes, it isn't a matter of whether we're willing to leave. I no longer have a choice, do I?"

Facing Fiennes's astonished expression, he shook his head with a faint smile.

"Besides..."

"Even if I can't find a way to deal with him, there is still something extremely important I need to do."

"That dark wizard lurking within Hogwarts Castle—even Dumbledore doesn't know who he is. I think I have to find a way to dig out his identity!"

"Is it Peter Pettigrew? Or Barty Crouch Jr.? Or someone else?"

"He..."

"Or perhaps it could be them..."

"What are they trying to accomplish by infiltrating the school?"

Snape took a deep breath, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and gazed at the Young Wizards still playing around as if every second mattered.

"I am a professor of Hogwarts. I must protect these children and keep them safe from the war outside."

"!!!" Anton and Fiennes exchanged a glance, then both looked at Snape.

"Wow~" Anton exclaimed.

"Severus!" Old Wizard Fiennes looked deeply moved. "You've changed!"

"Changed into..."

The old wizard considered it, then could not help laughing. "You've become much more human. Like an actual person."

What kind of thing was that to say! Snape turned and glared